Availability and Use of Institutional Repositories for Successful Service Delivery in Digital Age: A Case Study of Nine Polytechnic in Nigeria

Abstract

The increase in awareness of open access, the need to capture, preserve and disseminate collective intellectual output for global visibility by academic institutions in Nigeria has resulted in the rapid development and deployment of Institutional repositories (IRs). IR contains valuable institutional memories such as theses, dissertations, scholarly articles, academic journals, conference papers and lots of other institutional publications tahat are domiciled in the institution which are relevant to teaching, learning and research. This study is carried out with a view to examine the availability of IR infrastructural facilities, prospects and challenges in the selected nine polytechnics in Nigeria. The research instruments used were questionnaire, documentary evidence and oral interview. Findings revealed that software needed to manage IR contents are not available in most of the polytechnic libraries sampled. Majority of the respondents perceived IR to be highly beneficial for effective service delivery especially for long term preservation; access and global visibility of institutional intellectual assets. Challenges facing the establishment and sustenance of IR contents were identified. The study concludes woith recommendations that the management of polytechnics in Nigeria should prioritize the procurement of ICT facilities (both hardware and software) to support viable and functional IRs, encourage enlightenment and advocacy programs on benefits of IRs through different media, to seek local and foreign grants from donors to solve the problems of IR funding, make robust provision for appropriate and adequate training for IRs personnel to enhance competence and expertise.